GRAIL


Meaning of GRAIL in English

I. ˈgrāl, chiefly before pause or consonant -āəl noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English graiel, from Middle French grael, from Medieval Latin gradale — more at gradual

archaic : gradual

II. noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English graal, greal, from Middle French, bowl, grail, from Medieval Latin gradalis, perhaps from Latin gradus step + -alis -al; perhaps from its having consisted originally of a series of bowls or plates arranged one above the other — more at grade

1. usually capitalized : the cup or platter which according to medieval legend was used by Christ at the Last Supper, was brought to Britain, and thereafter became the object of knightly quests that could be achieved only by those persons who were chaste in thought, word, and deed — called also Holy Grail

2. sometimes capitalized : an eminently desirable and ultimate object of an extended effort or quest

the road we travel is long, but at the end lies the grail of peace — A.E.Stevenson †1965

III. noun

( -s )

Etymology: perhaps contraction of gravel

: gravel

silver globules and gold-sparkling grail — Robert Browning

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.